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If you ever feel like your Instagram DMs are a little too accessible, navigating your inbox can sometimes feel like a chore. But the good news is that Instagram gives you the tools to decide who can—and can’t—slide into your DMs.
1Control How People Can Reach You
Instagram gives you the power to decide who can send you message requests and where those requests land. you’re able to manage this by tapping that little circle with your profile picture in the bottom-right corner of the app to go to your profile. Hit the menu button in the top-right corner (it looks like three stacked lines—aka the “hamburger menu”). From there, tapMessages and Story Repliesunder theHow others can interact with yousection.
Here, you can decide what happens when someone tries to message you. Foryour followers on Instagram, you can choose whether their requests go to your Message Requests folder by selectingMessage requests, or you can block them entirely by choosingDon’t receive requests.
For accounts that don’t follow you (i.e.,Others on Instagram), you have the same options. Either let their requests appear in your Message Requests folder or stop them from showing up at all.
Messages from people you already follow will always go straight to your main inbox, so you don’t have to worry about missing out on chats with your friends or favorite accounts.
2Set Your Account to Private
When your account is private, only your approved followers can send you direct messages (DMs) or interact with your posts. This is perfect if you’re tired of random DMs from strangers or spam accounts trying to sell you weird products.
To switch to a private account, open the Instagram app, go to your Profile, tap the three-line hamburger menu in the top right corner, and navigate toAccount privacyto toggle on thePrivate accountoption.
Once you’ve made the switch, anyone who wants to follow you must send a request, which you can approve or deny.
Keep in mind that switching to private won’t affect your current followers, as they’re already on the list. If there are people you don’t want in your circle anymore, you’re able to remove them by going to your followers' list, tapping the three dots next to their name, and selectingRemove. Don’t worry, they won’t be notified.
3Block Instagram Accounts
Sometimes, you just need to stop someone from reaching out altogether, and that’s where blocking comes in. Mind you,that is different from restricting an account. When you block someone on Instagram, they won’t be able to message you, comment on your posts, or even find your profile.
Instagram doesn’t notify them that you’ve blocked them, so if you’re worried about awkward confrontations, rest easy—they’ll just think you’ve gone offline or moved on.
To block an account, go to their profile, tap the three dots in the top-right corner, and selectBlock. If you’re dealing with a persistent troll or spam account, Instagram will even block not just their current profile but also any future accounts they might create.
Remember, your Instagram is your space, and you deserve to feel good every time you check your messages. Don’t hesitate to use the tools Instagram provides to control who connects with you.
